The Hawaiian Ecosystems at Risk project (HEAR) is a government-funded project created to provide technology, methods, and information to decision-makers, resource managers, and the general public to help support effective science-based management of harmful non-native species (
invasive species) in
Hawaii
Hawaii ( ; haw, Hawaii or ) is a state in the Western United States, located in the Pacific Ocean about from the U.S. mainland. It is the only U.S. state outside North America, the only state that is an archipelago, and the only state ...
and the
Pacific Rim.
Origin and history
HEAR originated at the Haleakala Field Station (
Maui,
Hawaii
Hawaii ( ; haw, Hawaii or ) is a state in the Western United States, located in the Pacific Ocean about from the U.S. mainland. It is the only U.S. state outside North America, the only state that is an archipelago, and the only state ...
) of the Pacific Island Ecosystems Research Center (PIERC) of the
USGS
The United States Geological Survey (USGS), formerly simply known as the Geological Survey, is a scientific agency of the United States government. The scientists of the USGS study the landscape of the United States, its natural resources, a ...
's
Biological Resources Division (formerly the National Biological Service) through the Pacific Cooperative Studies Unit (PSCU) based at the
University of Hawaii
A university () is an institution of higher (or tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. Universities typically offer both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. In the United States, th ...
Department of
Botany
Botany, also called , plant biology or phytology, is the science of plant life and a branch of biology. A botanist, plant scientist or phytologist is a scientist who specialises in this field. The term "botany" comes from the Ancient Greek w ...
.
More details
about HEAR's creation and history are available in an article published in ''Conservation In Practice''
Funding and support
As of late 2012, the Hawaiian Ecosystems at Risk project is funded by the Hauoli Mau Loa Foundation and the U.S. Forest Service with support from th
Pacific Cooperative Studies Unit (PCSU)
of the University of Hawaii at Manoa
A university () is an institution of higher (or tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. Universities typically offer both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. In the United States, th ...
. Historically, HEAR has also received funding or support from the Pacific Basin Information Node (PBIN) of the National Biological Information Infrastructure
The National Biological Information Infrastructure (NBII) was a program coordinated by the United States Geological Survey's Biological Informatics Office within the USGS Biological Resources Discipline. Its purpose was to facilitate access to da ...
(NBII) through the Pacific Island Ecosystems Research Center of USGS, the Hawaii Conservation Studies Unit (HCSU) of the University of Hawaii at Hilo
A university () is an institution of higher (or tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. Universities typically offer both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. In the United States, th ...
, Haleakala National Park, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
The United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS or FWS) is an agency within the United States Department of the Interior dedicated to the management of fish, wildlife, and natural habitats. The mission of the agency is "working with othe ...
.
Partnerships
The Hawaiian Ecosystems at Risk project (HEAR) functions by working collaboratively as a partnership with other organizations, including:
* U.S. Forest Service
* Pacific Cooperative Studies Unit of the University of Hawaii
A university () is an institution of higher (or tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. Universities typically offer both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. In the United States, th ...
* Pacific Basin Information Node (NBII)
* Pacific Island Ecosystems Research Center (USGS)
* Global Invasive Species Information Network The Global Invasive Species Information Network (GISIN) is a web-based network of data providers including government, non-government, non-profit, educational, and other organizations that agree to work together to provide increased access to data a ...
See also
* Invasive species in Hawaii
* Invasive species in the United States
References
{{Reflist
External links
Hawaiian Ecosystems at Risk project official website (www.hear.org)Pacific Island Ecosystems Research CenterUniversity of Hawaii Department of Botany
Conservation projects in the United States
University of Hawaiʻi
Environment of Hawaii